Hydro assist on the cheap

[intheworks]

thats awesome

[leorn]

if you want bone yard stuff:
late 70s to early 80s ford trucks, vans etc had a few different tranny coolers to choose from that were nice and skinny.  they also have push on lines.  the one i got slid right in

Also got a reservoir out of a 5 series bmw that is roughly 3 times the size of a stocker.  same size lines as well.

$5 for the reservoir.  $10 for the cooler

[Weak-Link]

you ready to do a write up on the FJ60 box?

[Haggar]

Ordering parts now

One things when you are are ordering, grab a couple 1/4" pipe plugs, and an extra hose, for trail fixes, in case you rip a line, you can repair it, or at least plug the box.

[possum]

Has any one done this without hi-steer?  I havent got the $400 for hi steer yet. The stock push pull hasn't given me too much reason to change it yet. Is the swing on the stock steering the same throw? and, Where would you drill? I think it would be fairly easy to modafy the stabalizer brackets to acomodate the ram. and I could re-use it when I get around to doing rear springs in the front and cross over.

[Bazzi]

I had the push pull system with ram... basicly the same consept. with drilling and all...

but here´s my question. there is one bolt  on top of the lit (the one with the nut and the philips screw driver groove)  that bolt seams like it is supposed to adjust something...   what does that bolt do??

[notajeep]

It takes up the wear in the box.

[Bazzi]

ok. and how´s that adjusted... ? do I just tighten it like there´s no tomorrow or is there some sweet spot???

[notajeep]

loosen up the nut a little. Hold the nut still with a wrench and use a screw driver to tighten the screw. then tighten the nut back up. You are basically moving the gears closer togeather.

[possum]

can I see some pics of a hydro'd push pull set up/ showing where to  drill? Was the throw the same length?

[Bazzi]

I was running it a few years back... on a truck that I bought with the ram installed.I am currently running the ifs setup but basicly I am running it with an fj60 steering machine. the only thing I have different is that I drilled the top lit next to the nut... (on the push and pull setup if I remember it correctly it was the same deal. basicly it´s the same idea.

I have it all apart now (changing it´s seals, and I will take some pics for show and tell.

[possum]

cool, thanks

[subliminaltrips]

I'm still going to add a gusset to the lower part of the mount but this is after Swamp and it obviously held up to being stuffed and turned numerous times. 

fred,
what did you use for the bolts? what size? did you have to use bushings  or do the bolts fit tight? i was concerned about it clunking around.

[royota85r]

Thanks for the part numbers. I've had my spare box drilled for probably 3 months now and was unable to find the info for length of travel on the ram. the part #'s you provided are awsome thanks.

[subliminaltrips]

i found this
http://ballisticfabrication.3dcartstores.com/OD-Tube-Clamp_p_21-1474.html


good price and it will allow you to adjust your tow alot easier.

[Volcom]

Are the 3 foot lines everyone is ordering from surpluscenter.com long enough??  Also, does the bottom of the reservoir need to be higher than the power steering pump??  I think I'm going to have a hard time finding a place to put a taller reservoir under the hood without the hood hitting the reservoir. 

[DTB]

i found this
http://ballisticfabrication.3dcartstores.com/OD-Tube-Clamp_p_21-1474.html


good price and it will allow you to adjust your tow alot easier.

that is for a 1.5 inch OD tube...most Hysteer set ups are 1.25 like marlins. Are you sleeving the tie rod to make this fit? Ballistic says they are coming out with a bunch of new sizes soon, including 1.25"

Also, does the bottom of the reservoir need to be higher than the power steering pump??  I think I'm going to have a hard time finding a place to put a taller reservoir under the hood without the hood hitting the reservoir. 

Can you use the stock location for the reservoir? I just welded 2 reservoirs together and it fits fine>>>

[subliminaltrips]

oh i see. ill have to look into that. ill give them a call.



i started on mine tonight, still gotta get the stuff from surplus center but i got my resivoir from speedway motors
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/2062,177_Power-Steering-Reservoir-Tanks.html?itemNo=91032876

  i got the pump from a buddy for free because he got the trail gear kit and the pulley kept comming off, three times  . i just put a bolt in the end so it wouldnt pop off, something tg should have done when they designed it. its really a tc style pump that you can get from psc. i got the hoses from psc as well as the bracket. it uses a napa belt #9440.

heres the link to psc
http://www.pscmotorsports.com/index.php?cPath=127_85

[DTB]

  i got the pump from a buddy for free because he got the trail gear kit and the pulley kept comming off, three times  . i just put a bolt in the end so it wouldnt pop off, something tg should have done when they designed it.

I have heard of this problem too with the TG product but dont know a whole lot about it.....is there a concern with the bolt backing out?

[Volcom]

Can you use the stock location for the reservoir? I just welded 2 reservoirs together and it fits fine

I had to cut my inner fender out for my tall shock hoops.  I was able to bolt one side in a set of holes but had to weld the mount to the top of the shock hoop.

Can you mount the reservoir too low??  Does it have to be higher than the PS pump?

[Bazzi]

I belive so ... 

[DTB]

yes it does have to be higher....the bottom of the reservoir is supposed to be above any other parts of the system or it will suck air

[subliminaltrips]

I have heard of this problem too with the TG product but dont know a whole lot about it.....is there a concern with the bolt backing out?

no the pulleys spin clockwise as does the bolt threads. the bolt seems to be the way to go. psc sells a steel pulley  and if i were to buy a pump id buy theres. tg's pump is ok but the pulley issue is a lack of testing. if an aluminum pulley is on a steel shaft its going to expand 3x more than the steel and bye bye press fit and bye bye pulley. what i dont get is why they dont at least throw a bolt into the kit . a woodruff key would be nice! anyways enough of the bashing.


i built my hydro setup for just over 300 bux going through psc and sourcing my own stuff with very little work. other "kits" would run 600 bux.


i did the same thing with my mount on the shock hoops.

[possum]

can I see some pics of a hydro'd push pull set up/ showing where to  drill? Was the throw the same length?

Has any one done this without hi-steer?  I havent got the $400 for hi steer yet. The stock push pull hasn't given me too much reason to change it yet. Is the swing on the stock steering the same throw? and, Where would you drill? I think it would be fairly easy to modafy the stabalizer brackets to acomodate the ram. and I could re-use it when I get around to doing rear springs in the front and cross over.

[Bazzi]

I'm sorry I was gonna dig up that old box and take some pics of it. But I didn't find it. I guess I gave it to someone or threw it in the container. 
But basically the box is built on the same theory,  I guess you drill the same places, there are a couple places I have found on the internet about it, I guess you just have to google it.

I guess all I can say is good luck.

but on the other hand, I managed to rebuild my land cruiser box, and I tested it before I hooked up the steering bar, (only the ram lines connected to the housing)  and to my surprise, if I turn the box fully to one end the ram turns the wheels standing on the garage floor on 39,5 trxxus,  the truck was kinda scary to drive at first, but damn I looooove it now.

[ryno1]

Ok, stupid newbie question: Has anyone had a problem with the mounting for the ram not being a heim joint that pivots?  I'm thinking it would need to pivot, but maybe I'm wrong, any thoughts?

[Thomas P]

everyone should put together a parts list with all the parts #'s, prices, and stores they got there stuff from and put the total at the bottom so everyone can see what the cheapest setup was, and it would make it easier for the next guy to put one together........ just a thought   

[Tice]

Ok, stupid newbie question: Has anyone had a problem with the mounting for the ram not being a heim joint that pivots?  I'm thinking it would need to pivot, but maybe I'm wrong, any thoughts?

It does need to pivot on both ends. Though you don't need a hiem, I just used bolt's and nylon lock nuts. Just didn't tighten them real tight.

[chevihemi]

I have the older style of All-Pro Low steer and want to use this ram with it.  Does the ram look like I could cut the mount off the fixed end and rotate in 90* so the lines point up instead of front/back as I dont think i have enough room for that configuration.

Thanks!

[alwayzbroken]

ok. and how´s that adjusted... ? do I just tighten it like there´s no tomorrow or is there some sweet spot???

This is an old post but in case somebody sees this and thinks about taking the slack out of the steering gear while they are messing around with hyrdro mods, BEWARE, overtightening the adjusting nut can create binding in the steering gear and can cause the steering to lock unexpectedly cause the steering to jam at any given moment. In other words, unless you know what you are doing it can be very dangerous to mess with that nut. Only make slight adjustments. This nut is not meant to make a worn box good again, it only takes out minimal slack.